It will be much sensible to ask for a crane functional test and load test certification from a reputed third-party inspector before import. This will restrict the number of junk cranes coming into India. Also, the project people should have very strict controls on quality, selection of suitable equipment and timely completion of the job, says Ajay Kumar Somani, Director, Mobile Crane Division, Liebherr India.

The requirement for higher capacity mobile cranes with advanced features is growing due to continuous change in heavy lift sizes, besides a growing customer preference for mobile cranes with better safety features and technology.

As the pioneer of research and development in concrete pumping technology, Putzmeister offers the latest and most comprehensive range of concreting solutions. Putzmeister has achieved landmarks in both the vertical and horizontal pumping of concrete.This German giant is on a mission to change the construction scenario in India by making the construction sites more automated and mechanised

If a project needs to be completed in time, efficient access equipment/machine needs to be deployed, as early completion of project will bring down the overall cost. There is an urgent need of legislation or some kind of Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification, says Siraj Dalvi, Managing Director, Simple Engineering Solutions. Excerpts from the interview.

In the long term, we see high demand worldwide for mobile cranes, supported by the sectors of infrastructure, refineries, chemicals, and energy, with wind power playing a particularly important part. The Liebherr Mobile Crane Division is based in Ehingen, Germany, where it operates manufacturing facilities covering a built-over area of 220,000 sq m on a total surface of 840,000 sq m,

The market looked good in 2010-11 and 2011-12, but since April 2012, it is in decline. Shortage of floating money, difficulties in getting term loans, a payment crisis in the market, shortage of coal supply for new power plants, reduction in tax advantage in windmill investments etc.

Today in India, the mobile crane market is largely oriented towards and segmented on the straight boom concept. At the lower end, it is the popular pick and carry cranes built on a tractor base, and at the higher end, it is the truck-mounted heavy duty cranes.